Integrated tile ridge vent system

ABSTRACT

An integrated tile ridge vent system which more efficiently vents hot air along a ridge of a tile roof includes a structural sheet material formed to provide two opposing sides having feet and vents alternating along the length of the two sides. The feet provide a contact area for fastening to a roof structure, while the vents provide an opening between each of the feet to vent hot air from a tile roof ridge. A screen may be provided to screen the vents, preventing intrusion of pests and debris through the vents. Installed along a roof ridge having a gap formed by decking or sheathing materials, the vents of vent system provide elongated slots under the tiles for releasing hot air from an attic, crawl space or living area, which rises due to thermo convection of the hot air, cooling a structure and reducing humidity by releasing warm, moist air from the structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field relates to tile ridges and vents.

BACKGROUND

U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,700 discloses a tile roof ridge vent used to vent an attic area of a dwelling, which requires a nailer board for securing the vent to trusses. Tile boards which require installation of a nailer board may be found in references such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,582, U.S. Pat. No. 6,537,147, U.S. Pat. No. 6,966,156 and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0140582.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,700 and U.S. Patent Appl. No. 2006/0121845 require multiple components for assembly and vent air in a cap tile area, which will necessarily trap the vented air in one location. None of the known solutions provide for both structural integrity and venting of air over a wide area using a single structural ridge component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tile ridge vent comprises a structural sheet formed into the shape of a roof ridge. The roof ridge is formed to have two opposing sides joined by a ridge, such that a channel is formed. The two opposing sides each have feet that extend outwardly at an angle to the sides such that the feet provide a plurality of fastening regions for fastening the ridge vent to roof decking. A plurality of vents is formed by deformation of the side portions located between the feet, such that a gap is formed between the side portions and decking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-B show left and right ends of an integrated tile ridge vent system.

FIG. 2 illustrates an integrated tile ridge vent system installed on a roof deck.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a mesh component of the integrated tile ridge vent system.

FIG. 4 shows a view of an integrated tile ridge vent system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The examples described and the drawings rendered are illustrative and are not to be read as limiting the scope of the invention as it is defined by the appended claims.

FIG. 1 A illustrates an example of a tile ridge vent system comprising a metal, such as galvanized steel, sheet deformed into a tile ridge vent system having fastening areas 13, 23, 32, 34, 42, 44, vent regions 26, 36, 28, 38, opposite sides 4 and 6 of the ridge and top ridge portions 8, 10, 11 joining a first side 6 and a second side 4. FIG. 1A shows a left-side of a tile ridge vent system that extends along a ridge line of a roof (not shown) and ends in a symmetrical right end (not shown).

An open channel 40 extends along the length of the ribbed tile ridge vent system as shown in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, baffles or barriers may be inserted along the length of the tile ridge vent system in order to divide the channel into sections.

A fastening area such as fastening area 22, may have a length of 2 inches, for example. Vent portions, such as vent portion 26, may have a length of 10 inches, for example. Other dimensions may be possible.

FIG. 1B illustrates the symmetrical right end of the tile ridge vent system. In any number of vent portions 36, 38 and fastening areas 42, 44 may be used to extend the length of the tile ridge vent system. Each vent portion 26, 28, 36, 38 may be the same length or a pair of vent portions 26, 28, may be a different length than another pair of vent portions 36, 38, for example. Fastening areas 13, 23, 32, 34, 42, 44 are used to nail, screw or otherwise fasten the tile ridge vent system to roof decking 19, as shown in FIG. 2, for example.

FIG. 2 illustrates the installation of a tile ridge on a roof of a structure. The deformation of the vent portions 28, 38 provide slots for exhaust of hot air 21 from along the ridge outwards from the vent portions 28, 38 and around and under the tiles 27. Thus, the ventilation area is spread across the entire roof and does not require venting from tiles 17 placed only along the ridge. This allows the use of a cement, grout or other substance to be used to adhere the ridge tile 17 along the ridge of the roof, for example, which is substantial advantage compared to other roof ridge venting systems that limit the use of normal grouting along the roof ridge. Furthermore, fastening areas 23, 34, 44 may be spaced at intervals having a length L. The interval L may be about 12 inches, for example. About 12 inches provides for manufacturing tolerances customary in the industry. In one example, the spacing may be the same as the spacing of supports 50 for the decking. The fastening areas may be aligned such that fastener 63 are driven into the supports 50, for example. (i.e., L′) The width of vents in FIG. 2 is much greater than the width of the fastening areas, providing for venting along a large fraction of the roof ridge.

A metal tile ridge vent may be made of a 26 gauge zinc galvanized steel sheet, which may be formed either on location or in a plant and maybe cut to length and installed without the use of wooden ridge beams. Installation merely requires the tile ridge vent to be cut to length and fastened into place using nails or other fasteners. Then, installation of roofing tiles 27 and ridge tiles 17 may be proceed as usual for installation of a tile roof.

FIG. 3 illustrates a detailed view of one vent portion 28 extending from a side 4 of the tile ridge vent. A screen 30 allows hot air to exit the vent portion 28, while preventing intrusion of insects and animals through the opening in the vent portion 28, for example. In one example, the screen 30 is inserted as a single piece along the entire tile ridge vent, blocking the vent portions. In an alternative example, the screen 30 is cut to dimensions sufficient to block the vent portion 28 or additional adjacent vent portions and is adhered, soldered, spot welded, or otherwise attached along the tile ridge vent.

In FIG. 4, the dimensions 60 of the integrated tile ridge vent system is 5.5 inches, for example. However, the dimensions may range from 4 to 7 inches, in other examples. The width 62 of a top ridge portion may be 1.75 inches, for example. A fastening area 64, in this figure, is depicted at an angle of 45 degrees. Near the fastening area 64 are dimensions 66 of 1.5 inches, for example. The dimensions A of the tile ridge vent system may be 0.5 inches, for example. The dimensions B may be 0.5 inches, for example. Dimensions 70 from one fastening area 64 to another fastening area 74 may be 4.75 inches, for example.

Various combinations and modifications of the examples provided are within the scope of the present invention. 

1. An integrated tile ridge vent system for use in venting hot air along a ridge of a tile roof structure, the vent system comprising: a structural sheet material formed to comprise: a roof ridge having two opposing sides joined by a ridge such that a channel is formed, each of the two opposing sides having a plurality of feet that extend outwardly at an angle from each of the two opposing sides such that the feet each provide a fastening region for attaching the vent system to the tile roof structure, and each of the two opposing sides having a plurality of vents formed between a plurality of feet such that hot air is vented through the plurality of vents.
 2. The vent system of claim 1, further comprising a screen inserted along an inside surface of at least one of the two opposing sides.
 3. The vent system of claim 2, wherein the screen is U-shaped and is inserted along the inside surfaces of both of the two opposing sides, such that each of the plurality of vents are screened by the screen.
 4. The vent system of claim 3, wherein the screen is attached to the inside surface of one of the two opposing sides such that each of the plurality of vents of the respective one of the two opposing sides are screened by the screen.
 5. The vent system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of vents are spaced at regular intervals along at least one of the two opposing sides, and a length of plurality of the plurality of vents is greater than length of the plurality of feet disposed there between.
 6. The vent system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the plurality of feet are spaced at an interval length of about 12 inches.
 7. The vent system of claim 1, wherein the structural sheet material is of a galvanized steel.
 8. A roof structure, comprising: trusses forming a ridge; decking attached to the trusses such that a gap is formed at the ridge; an integrated tile ridge vent system of claim 1 attached to the decking using fasteners through a plurality of the plurality of feet and into the decking; and a plurality of ridge tiles adhered over the integrated tile ridge vent system of claim
 1. 9. The structure of claim 8, wherein the integrated tile ridge vent system includes a screen screening at least one of the plurality vents.
 10. The structure of claim 9, wherein the screen is U-shaped and is inserted in the channel such that a plurality of the plurality of vents of both of the two opposing sides is screened by the screen.
 11. The structure of claim 9, wherein the screen is attached to an inside surface of at least one of the two opposing sides. 